Is It Time For Hospice?

Perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness or perhaps a loved one has decided to take advantage of palliative care, or comfort care, as opposed to curative measures like chemo therapy, dialysis, or multiple trips to the local ER. Either way, you might be wondering, “Is it time for Hospice?” or “When will I know when it’s time for hospice?”

Typically, hospice is referred when a patient has a life limiting illness that gives a prognosis of six months or less. Sadly, hospice is often referred much later than this and brought in only at the absolute end of life, which doesn’t allow the Team to do their best work for the patient, their caregivers or family members. Hospice is an added benefit that allows the patient to remain comfortable through their end-of-life experience, while providing loved ones with piece of mind and added support as they navigate the journey that includes anticipatory grief and loss.

Some questions that might help someone make the decision to pursue hospice include the following:

• Can you or your loved one get around on their own, without the assistance of another person? This may include getting back and forth to the bathroom, in and out of bed or the house.
• Are you or your loved one short of breath doing regular, everyday activities like walking, talking, bathing, or eating?
• Does you or your loved one require oxygen?
• Have you or your loved one recently been hospitalized with an infection, following a diagnosis of a terminal illness?
• Have you or your loved one experienced significant weight loss?
• Do you or your loved one want to forgo any additional curative treatments that are intended to prolong life? Does the patient want to remain at home and comfortable as opposed to making trips to the local Emergency Room?
• Has a doctor suggested hospice?

If you think that hospice may the next logical step for yourself or for your loved one, you may contact one of our helpful representatives today to get additional information about next steps.